Hall to Ride Vain Queen in Robert Sangster Stakes 2015

Jockey Nicholas Hall has been confirmed to ride smart mare Vain Queen when she debuts in Adelaide in the 2015 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville Racecourse this weekend.

Vain Queen is set to jump favourite in Saturday’s 2015 Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide with Nicholas Hall in the saddle. Photo: Sarah Ebbett.

Hall jumped aboard John Sadler’s classy daughter of Artie Schiller last time out in Melbourne when five-year-old Vain Queen ran a brave second to Lucky Hussler in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 27.

That was her second Group 1 run on the trot following a fourth to Shamal Wind in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield in February where Damian Lane had the mount.

In the William Reid Hall became the ninth jockey in as many starts to jump aboard Vain Queen under race conditions, but finally she will get the benefit of back-to-back runs under the same hoop this weekend for the $400,000 Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m).

Both Hall and Saddler will be chasing a maiden win in the weight-for-age, fillies-and-mares’ classic with Vain Queen who leads the pre-field Robert Sangster Stakes odds at a current quote of $4.60.

It may be her first look at Morphettville, but Vain Queen has solid form over the distance (5-2-1-0) that she’ll be looking to build on when she faces off against the likes of former Blue Diamond Stakes winner Miracles Of Life coming off a Group 1 The Galaxy third for Peter & Paul Snowden, the Les Bridge-trained Group 2 Sapphire Stakes winner Avoid Lightning and 2013 Robert Sangster Stakes champ Platelet.

Vain Queen is still lightly raced for her age having won seven of her 14 career starts to date to give her a 50% winning strike rate heading into the Robert Sangster.

She should appreciate coming up against a field of her own gender after taking on the boys in the William Reid Stakes last start, where she was beaten under two lengths in her elite level race debut.

Sadler is set to make a decision today on her final piece of work that will take place on Tuesday, and whether that will be a Caulfield jump-out or just a softer gallop.

“It’s not something that I would normally do so close to a big race,” Sadler told AAP.

“The jump-outs last week at Caulfield were on the inside grass and I didn’t want to trial her on that track.

“I’ll make up my mind on Monday whether I give her a jump-out or whether she’ll have a nice gallop instead.”

All going well after the Robert Sangster Stakes Vain Queen could stick around in Adelaide and target the autumn’s other Group 1 sprint, the $500,000 The Goodwood held back at the track and distance on May 16.

Stay tuned to Races.com.au to view the official Robert Sangster Stakes 2015 field and barriers on Wednesday.

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